Honey, Ive Detoxed the Kids ; We Challenge Football Boss Greig to Ditch the Aerosols in His House
EVERY day our children are being exposed to a dangerous cocktail of chemicals in our homes.
Aerosols, air fresheners, shampoos and oven cleaners have been linked to illnesses such as diarrhoea, earache, allergies, asthma, depression and even cancer.
In fact the same research found that people using furniture polish daily are more prone to getting headaches and 26 per cent more likely to experience depression.
But could we live without our scented luxuries? We challenged Lisa and Greig Denham, of Cumbernauld, to detox their home.
Customer adviser Lisa, 28, and Greig, 27, a social care instructor and player/coach of Third Division outfit East Stirling, have two sons Jack, three, and two- year-old Sam.
They had no idea any of the products in their house could be harmful.
After a quick search through their cupboards, we selected five typical items containing potentially hazardous chemicals and showed them how to live without them. We swapped their anti-perspirant and vacuum fresheners for baking soda and their babymassage gel for mint cleanser.
The kids hair was washed in egg and they cleaned the oven with lemon juice or vinegar.
Their verdict just as good and cheaper, too.
The Chemical Industries Association estimate the average British family buys around pounds 25 worth of chemicals every week.
Thats more than pounds 1000 a year on products which could be causing them serious health problems.
Liz Sutton, of the Womens Environmental Network (WEN), said: Were exposed to multiple tiny doses of a whole cocktail of chemicals every day.
The long-term effects havent been studied in-depth but it is important to try to limit exposure by using less or trying to use more natural products.
In October last year, the European Commission unveiled draft legislation to address the fact thousands of commonly-used chemicals have never been tested.
It has been subject to lobbying from the chemicals industry, while environmental groups claim it doesnt go far enough, allowing hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals to be used, even if there is a safer known alternative. Children, in particular, are atrisk. As a baby feeds, it receives its mothers lifetime dose of musks, paraffins, flame retardants and other chemicals on the EUs high concern list.
Dr Dan Barlow, head of research for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: Our homes are meant to be safe as houses so it can be a shock to find many contain high levels of man- made chemicals that have not been tested for safe use 24 hours a day.
TV grimebusters Aggie MacKenzie and Kim Woodburn are constantly reminding us on How Clean Is Your House? that traditional ingredients, such as vinegar or baking soda, can be combined with a bit of elbow grease to give excellent, and inexpensive, results.
And theres no excuse for those lacking in time and energy eco- friendly cleaning products are on the market and continually improving in quality and price.
l Bicarbonate of soda v deodorant
Vaseline Intensive Care anti-perspirant deodorant.
Contents include: BHT, chlorohydrate
butane and propane. Dangers: BHT butylated hodroxytoluene can cause allergies and has been linked to possible behavioural problems and reproductive failures. It is not allowed in baby food.
Try instead: Dab bicarbonate of soda under armpits after a shower while you are still damp. Other alternatives include essential oils mixed with vegetable oil or washing regularly with soap and water.
Helen Lynn of the Womens Environmental Network said: Regular washing can eventually cut down on perspiration and eliminate the need for deodorants.
The Denhams verdict: Greig said: Id have to test it out on the football field but Im certainly very dry now.
Product cost: pounds 1.38
Our alternative: pounds 0.44
l Mint cleanser v baby massage gel
George (from Asda) baby soothing massage gel.
Contents include: Butylene glycol, alcohol, propylene glycol, parfum, potassium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol.
Dangers: Propylene glycol can cause contact dermatitis and is linked to depression of the central nervous system.
Try instead: Mint cleanser. Add four tablespoons of chopped, fresh mint to 10 fluid ounces of milk, leave in fridge for 12 hours then strain. Apply with cotton wool.
Dr Dan Barlow, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: Making your own products is a cheap and easy way to cut down the toxins your family are exposed to.
The Denhams verdict: Little Sam loved having the fresh milk rubbed into his skin. Lisa said: It feels very soft and just as effective as products we normally buy.
Product cost: pounds 1.98
Our alternative: pounds 0.88
l Egg shampoo v childrens shampoo
Tesco Kids 2 in 1 shampoo.
Contents include: Sodium laureth sulfate, chloride, formaldehyde.
Dangers: Formaldehyde has this year been confirmed carcinogenic cancer- causing by the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Try instead: Egg shampoo. Beat one or two eggs in a cup of water and massage into wet hair for five to 10 minutes. Allow time for the egg to clean the hair and the protein to condition it before rinsing off thoroughly.
The Denhams verdict: Jack thought it a great adventure to have eggs rubbed into his hair. Lisa said: Its left him with a nice shine and worked like a gel, too, making it easier for him to spike it up. He cant wait to show his friends.
Product cost: pounds 0.73
Our alternative: pounds 0.26
l Lemon juice and malt vinegar v oven cleaner
McBrides Shine Power Blaster (for burnt and baked on food on grills, hobs and ovens).
Contents include: Less than five per cent phosphate, non-ionic surfactants, perfume, formaldehyde.
Dangers: Carcinogenic formaldehyde.
Try instead: Acidic lemon juice is good for electric hobs, limescale marks and to clean floors. Rinse well to avoid attracting ants. Malt vinegar is a surface cleaner, stain remover, descaler, a mild disinfectant, deodorises and cuts through grease.
The Denhams verdict: Lisa gave it a bit of elbow grease and found lemon juice lifted the dirt off the cooker hob. She said: I had to leave it for a little while before it started working but then it was easy.
Product cost: pounds 1.88
Our alternative: pounds 0.59 (lemon juice) or pounds 0.21 (vinegar)
l Baking soda v carpet freshener
Glade Drop In Vac vacuum freshener.
Contents include: Alpha-hexylcinnamaldehyde, geraniol, propionaldehyde 2-(4-butylphenyl) 4-(4-hydroxy-4- methylpentyl) cyclohex-3-enecarb- aldehyde.
Dangers: Greenpeace say every ingredient has the potential to cause allergies, skin irritations and respiratory problems.
Try instead: Shake baking soda over carpet, leave for 30 minutes then hoover.
Greenpeace scientist Dr David Santillo said: This shows labelling is NOT the answer. The only way forward is to have regulations in place to keep hazardous chemicals out of the home.
The Denhams verdict: Greig easily lifted the bicarbonate of soda off the rug. He said: Considering the difference in cost, well definitely think about swapping over.
Product cost: pounds 1.19
Our alternative: pounds 0.44
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Natural cleaners
Lemon juice
Cut in half and use to absorb fridge smells. Or mix with salt to clean copper and brass. Combine with water to whiten whites and brighten colours in the washing machine. For mould and mildew, mix lemon juice or white vinegar and salt to clean thebathroom.
Bicarbonate of soda
This deodoriser, when mixed with water, dissolves dirt and grease. Use dry to lift stains from carpets (eg red wine). Good for cleaning shower curtains. For blocked drains use until it fizzes and then pour boiling water down. A paste of baking soda,salt, and hot water makes a great oven cleaner.
Olive oil
Use a little as furniture polish or to remove fingerprints from stainless steel.
Tea tree oil
Natural antiseptic and disinfectant. Effective on mould and mildew. Dilute as a deodoriser for musty clothing.
White wine vinegar/malt vinegar
Surface cleaner, stain remover, limescale descaler, cuts through grease, deodorises and acts as mild disinfectant. To clean glass use half white vinegar/half water.
Ventilation
Instead of air freshener, open a window (will incur some heat loss, but homes must be ventilated to prevent damp), or use a bowl of baking soda or potpourri.